The Just will flourish like Palm trees that still bear fruits when they are old. They give healthy wine to rejoice human hearts. Thus brothers and sisters, when we work for justice, peace, and fraternity, our labour cannot be not in vain. We will always be accompanied by Jesus, the Rock of our Redemption.

In these days, we are grateful to Pope Francis who, in his illness, continues to hope and to pray for peace in our broken world. Let us pray for him so that he may continue to be like a Palm tree that bears the fruit of final perseverance. He encourages us to remain Jesus’ good disciples.

We acknowledge our blindness, our hypocrisy, and our recurrent distractions. Let us seek guidance from our Master. Jesus is the source of living water that strengthens good trees, he is the light that enlightens our intelligence, and opens our hearts to inclusive fraternity. Jesus’ teachings bring about true joy, peace, hope, serenity, and eternal life.

We are Jesus’ disciples; we are not following blind leaders who would make all of us fall in a pit. Our divine Master opens our eyes to see obstacles that prevent the growth of our continent, Africa. In a few words:

• Stealing public funds bears bad fruits.
• Lack of forgiveness bears bad fruits.
• Incompetent leaders bear bad fruits.
• Discrimination bears bad fruits.
• Dishonesty bears bad fruits.
• Laziness bears bad fruits.
• Betrayal bears bad fruits.

Let us pray!

God Creator of all realities

Seen and unseen

Open our eyes and our hearts.

Heal all forms of blindness

And hypocrisy within our hearts.

Strengthen the faith of our Pope Francis

And help us

Your devoted disciples

To bear the fruit of final perseverance.

Amen